Combination letter sheet and envelope

ABSTRACT

IN COMBINATION, AN INTEGRAL ENVELOPE-LETTER SHEET AND METHODS FOR THE USE AND PREPARATION THEREOF.

n- 1 97 R. s. LYON, JR

COMBINATION- LETTER smzm AND wuvramm:

L2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RANDOLPH S. LYONJR ept. 4, 1968 Filed s Fl G INVI'JN'I'UH.

Jan; 26, 1971 R. S. LYON, JR

COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND ENVELOPE 2 SheeLs-Sheet 2- United States Patent O 3,557,519 COMBINATION LETTER SHEET AND ENVELOPE Randolph S. Lyon, Jr., Westport, Conn., assignor to Kurt H. Volk, Inc., Milford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 757,347 Int. Cl. B65b 11/48; B65d 27/00, 27/10 US. CI. 53-31 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In combination, an integral envelope-letter sheet and methods for the use and preparation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to a method of combining a letter sheet with an envelope to provide an integral system especially adapted for use in computerized operations such as those involving computer personalized web lithographic printed letters in combination with a computer personalized addressed non-window envelope. Furthermore, this invention relates to an integral letter sheet and envelope system suitable for use in such methods.

(2) Description of the prior art The adaptation of continuous high speed we'b lithographic printing techniques to direct mail advertising has been expanded recently to include personalized letters by utilizing computer directed print-out machines both to address and fill-in personal information about individuals stored in the computers memory bank. The compo sition of the letter can include all of the creative graphic art features possible with web lithographic printing such as: 4 color process, multi colors, spot gumming, perforating, embossing or numbering, etc, in any. conceivable combination and on a wide variety of paper stocks. The use of computers to both address and personalize such advertising letters has greatly expanded their usefulness as an advertising media, because it has made possible volume mailings at a considerably lower cost than the previous hand-typed methods provided. The personalized effect results in greatly increased returns to the advertiser thereby enhancing their value as a media.

The limitations of the art, at present, center more around the envelope used with such an advertising system rather than the letter itself. If a window envelope is used, the letter losses a considerable amount of its personalized value, because it is easily recognized by the person receiving it as a form or mass-produced mail advertisement and very often is never opened and read. Systems more recently developed have attempted to overcome this drawback by personalizing the envelope with a typed address. Such systems have used the same computer print-out units and are either continuous envelope systems or integral envelope systems.

The continuous envelope system utilizes pro-formed envelopes which are attached, glued, taped, or inserted in a variety of ways into a carrier web of paper, plastic material and the like, which has been punched with holes creases the time required to assemble the letter and envelope. In addition, spoilage of letters and envelopes is high, because of the separate systems. A break in either the letter or envelope web means that the matching portion of the other web must be discarded. Also, the necessity for feeding the bulky double layer of Web plus loosely attached envelopes into the print-out machine frequently causes jamming, consequent web breakage, and spoilage of both envelopes and letters. One system currently in use requires the envelope to be separated from the web along a perforated line of weakness which comprises the envelope flap. The rough perforated edge of the envelope flap is evident to the receiver, and it has the potential disadvantage of being recognized as an advertisement.

With the integral envelope system, the letter and envelope are one piece. The letter is folded up into the envelope and must be separated from the envelope when received by the individual to whom it is addressed. Such an envelope-letter system is usually left open, at least along one edge, or a perforated edge is provided to facilitate opening and separation of the letter from the envelope. When opened, the letter and envelope look very much like the World War II Victory Mail. Such a letter has the similar drawbacks of the. window envelope letter listed above, in that it is much too easily recognized as an advertisement by the individual receiving it and, consequently, has considerably lower value as advertising media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention provides a combination letter sheet and integral envelope comprising a first sheet, forming the letter portion of said system, and a second sheet joined along a transverse line, which can be scored or perforated for ease of folding, as will appear more fully hereinafter, said second sheet forming the envelope portion of my system. The second sheet has a transverse line defining a top and bottom panel which, when the letter portion is folded thereinto, are adapted to fold around said letter portion to form an envelope pocket upon sealing along the longitudinal edges of said panels. The second sheet is further characterized as containing a top panel which is adapted to fold along a third transverse line and thereby form an envelope flap. The first sheet of said system is folded in such manner as to position the perforated line joining the letter and envelope portions so that the letter portion can be separated, preferably in the same operation, from the envelope portion after folding and prior to sealing.

For adaptation to continuous high speed web lithographic printing techniques and computer directed printout techniques, the combined letter sheet and integral envelope is printed on a continuous web. The opposite longitudinal edges of the web can be punched with line holes that are necessary for engaging with sprocket feeding rollers on the computer directed printing system used to personalize the letter sheets and envelopes and to facilitate continuous high speed feeding.

In connection with such high speed feeding an embodiment of my invention comprises, in combination, a plurality of the letter sheet-integrated envelope combinations above described, sequentially joined one to the other along a transverse line, common to the end of the first sheet, remote from said first transverse line and the end of the second sheet, remote from said third transverse line.

My system avoids the problems attendant to continuous envelope systems since the letters and envelopes are part of an integral system that does not require assembling letters and envelopes, either by hand or by automatic insertion equipment. Furthermore, my system has all the advantages of a personal letter. The letter is separate in the envelope and the envelope is addressed on the outside. Such personalization, used in connection with presently available computerized print-out techniques, is most desirable. For example, the recipient of the letter is clearly induced to open and read such mail whereas he might otherwise not do so.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a section of the continuous web containing the letter sheet and integral envelope of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the letter sheet and integral envelope, partially folded for mailing, showing the envelope in a customized folded position prior to separation from the envelope portion;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the letter sheet and integral envelope in nearly completed form ready for sealing to form the envelope and separation of the letter fom ther envelope as described hereafter, preparatory to mailing;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the continuous web, fan folded and boxed for delivery to the computer location;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sealed envelope and letter ready for mailing;

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified ebodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a section of the continuous web containing two letter sheets-integral envelopes in a parallel configuration.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a composite sheet 10 that is divided by a perforated line 22 into a letter sheet 11 and an integral envelope 13.

Composite sheet 10 is a continuous form, preferably a lithographic webbing, having a plurality of sheets 10 interconnected by cutting lines 4. This form is adapted to be used with a machine such as a high-speed computerized print-out machine, that utilizes the continuous sheet forms and is therefore provided with a sprocket for high speed feeding of the composite sheet 10 into the machine utilizing said sheets. The composite sheet 10 has longitudinal perforations 12 inside of and generally parallel to punched line holes 24 suitable for engaging sprocket feeding rollers. The letter sheet 11 is joined to the envelope sheet 13 at the transverse perforations 22. Envelope sheet 13 has opposite longitudinal perforations 6 positioned inside of punched line holes 24, but outside of perforations 12. Indentation 8 defines this positioning. Envelope sheet 13 contains a first transverse scoring 18, which defines the envelope flap portion 2 of said envelope 13, and a second transverse scoring 20, which defines the front and back of the envelope 13. Area 16 defines that part of the envelope flap bearing adhesive.

The composite sheet 10 can be a printed lithographic web containing the graphic features previously described. The punched line holes 24 along the outer edge can be die-cut as can he the envelope flap side edges 2 and the perforated lines 6, 12 and 22. Such die-cutting facilitates the removal of these parts after the computer personalization process; however, it should be noted that any of lines 2, 6 and 12, in addition to die-cutting, can be guillotinecut or slit after bursting. The perforated line 22 also facilitates fan folding of the composite sheets (see FIG. 4) so that the printed continuous web can be transferred in a convenient boxed form to the computer location for typing of names and addresses and any other ersonalizing matter desired. Line 22 also serves as a guide in the first fold of the letter 11, but in the preferred embodiment is skin trimmed away during folding and assembly into the envelope.

The scored line 18 facilitates folding of the envelope flap. The area identified by 16 is preferably covered with a rewettable gum, and it is an optional feature depending on the type of envelope sealing equipment to be used in the final flap closure of the envelope and whether or not additional material is to be added to the assembled envelopes. This scoring and application of adhesive is accomplished on the web press during printing.

Folding-up the letter and envelope after the web has been computer personalized and after the web edges 2, 6 and 12 have been machanically stripped away, is preferably accomplished by first bursting or separating the sheets of the web into multiples of the desired length and guillotine cutting lines 4. Referring to FIG. 2, the trimmed sheets 10 are then fed through a special folding machine which folds the letter body 11, and then folds the envelope 13 around the already folded letter body. Referring to FIG. 3, at the same time the folding machine lays a bead of adhesive along the edges 6 so that when the envelope is folded around the letter, edges 6 are joined. These edges are then skin trimmed. The folded letter 11 is then separated from the envelope body 13 along line 22 with a special slitting device comprising an anvil and slitting blade which is adjusted to the thickness of the paper stock so that the top layers are trimmed clean leaving the third layer or envelope flap 16 untouched. In this manner, all the envelope edges are trimmed clean including the inside edge underneath the flap, as are the leading and bottom edges of the letter, so that they are free of ragged machine perforation marks. The final closure of the envelope flap (FIG. 5) can be accomplished as an integral part of the separation of the letter from the envelope or by the use of conventional envelope sealing equipment if additional material is to be added to the envelope. A ready-to-mail letter could be provided with the further addition of postage metering devices and, therefore, forms an embodiment of my invention. Referring to FIG. 6, inclusion of flaps 7 as an adjunct to edges 6 between lines 18 and 20, which can be folded over and affixed to the reverse side 15 of envelope 13 during the folding operation, thereby eliminates the necessity of edge skinning the two side edges 6 of the envelope 13.

In actual operation, it is preferred to use a plurality of composite sheets in parallel configuration. FIG. 7 shows a typical composite sheet comprising a lithographic web containing two letter-integral envelope sheets joined along line 9, which can be perforated for bursting. In all other respects the parts in FIG. 7 are identical to those in FIG. 1.

I claim:

1. A process for producing an envelope containing a separate letter sheet from a combined lettersheet-integral envelope in which said combined lettersheet-integral envelope comprises a first sheet and a second sheet joined thereto along a first transverse line, the opposite longitudinal edges of said first sheet being positioned inside those of the second sheet, said second sheet having a second transverse line defining top and bottom panels and a third transverse line in said top panel defining an envelope flap thereon, which process comprises (a) folding said first sheet along said first transverse line, and

(b) folding said second sheet along said second transverse line about said first sheet and sealing the overlapping edge portions of said second sheet together, thereby to form said second sheet into an envelope containing said first sheet with said first transverse line located at the opening of said envelope adjacent said envelope flap,

(c) thereafter while said envelope flap is open separating said first sheet from said second sheet along said first transverse line while said first sheet is contained by said second sheet thereby forming a separate letter sheet contained in an envelope and thereafter closing the envelope flap.

5 6 2. The method of claim 1 which further includes trim- References Cited ming the opposite longitudinal edges of said second sheet UNITED STATES PATENTS after folding along said second transverse line.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said trimming is skin 3,228,536 1/ 1965 y J11 69X trimming.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein separating said first 5 THERON CONDON Primary Exammer and second" sheets is by skin trimming along said first N ABRAMS, Assistant E i transverse line. v

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said separating of US. Cl. X.R. said first and second sheets is by slitting along said first 10 22892.I transverse line. 

